The legal setting
The Early Years Act of 2013 established a national system for children from birth to four, coordinated by the Early Childhood Care and Development Council, delivered mainly through barangay-level child development centres staffed by child development workers. Kindergarten at five is compulsory and free in public schools. Private preschools and day care operate in cities. For under-threes, family care remains the norm, often involving grandparents or a kasambahay.
What you find in the Philippines mirrors the wider region: a little from four onwards, next to nothing before three. Parents cover the gap through grandmothers, older relatives or paid carers, and the real cost stays out of sight because women in the household absorb it.
Between one private centre and the next, quality swings much more than the fee does. Specific questions reveal the difference: children per adult, how long staff stay, outdoor space with shade, the procedure if a child is injured, and an open door for surprise visits.
Taking on domestic help is an employment relationship, and the law treats it as one. Written terms, agreed working hours, the applicable minimum wage and social security registration safeguard employer and employee alike; fair arrangements are the durable ones.
Summary table
| Pre-primary | Provided or supported by the state; reach is uneven across areas |
|---|---|
| Under 3 | Almost no institutional care; families or private day care step in |
| Private sector | Crèches and nurseries operated privately, chiefly in Metro Manila and the regional centres |
| Oversight | Early Childhood Care and Development Council; Department of Education for kindergarten |
| Support | No universal childcare benefit; relief or subsidy applies only in the cases mentioned |
| Domestic help | Widespread, with national labour law as the framework |
Putting it into practice
- Find out from the neighbourhood public school if a pre-primary or early years class is linked to it.
- Visit private centres without warning, count children per adult and see the play area outside.
- Ask for proof of registration or licensing and for the injury procedure.
- For home help, record the terms in writing and observe the relevant labour legislation.
- Have a plan for the extended holidays, because private centres mostly close then.
Costs and who is covered
Public pre-primary is free or almost free where it exists, but uniforms, supplies and the parents' association levy are extra. Expect private provision to cost around ₱2,000 to ₱10,000 a month in private preschools, more in international schools. A household employee doing childcare is owed the applicable minimum wage at least, plus the social security contributions required by national law.
Latest changes
Kindergarten has been compulsory and free since the K-12 reform, and expansion has focused on the quality of barangay child development centres.
Where to turn
- Early Childhood Care and Development Council; Department of Education for kindergarten
- Local education authority, for public pre-primary enrolment
- Registered nurseries and crèches in the private sector, in Metro Manila and the regional centres
- Centres for young children run by local communities and religious bodies
- Department of labour, on hiring domestic workers
Point of caution
Employing a kasambahay is governed by the Domestic Workers Act, which sets a minimum wage, rest days and social security registration.
Quick answers
Is there public childcare for babies?
No: public childcare starts at pre-primary age, so babies and toddlers are looked after by relatives or private day care.
What does private provision cost?
Approximately ₱2,000 to ₱10,000 a month in private preschools, more in international schools, before registration fees and materials.
What should I check before enrolling?
Look at registration or licensing, children per adult, staff turnover and safety, and ask if you can visit unannounced.
Can I employ someone at home?
Yes, but under national labour law, with written terms, the applicable minimum wage and the required social security registration.
Where this comes from
- gov.ph — official government portal